Not carrying sufficient car insurance coverage can have devastating repercussions on you and your family if you are involved in an accident. If the accident is not your fault, it is up to you to have coverage that will protect you and your family. If you are carrying the Kentucky minimum insurance coverage, you are allowing the negligent driver, who may have caused the accident, to handle that responsibility. In today’s tough economic times, most people will not carry sufficient insurance coverage to financially protect your family if you are seriously injured.

An accident with not enough coverage
In 2008, there was a case that illustrated what can happen in a situation where only the minimum liability limits are carried. A bus was rear-ended by a car. There were nine people injured in this accident. The driver of the car that hit the bus had the minimum insurance required in Kentucky. Their liability coverage was $25,000/$50,000. This means that there was $50,000 to cover the nine injured people. That $50,000 had to be divided up among all of them. As a result, many did not get what they deserved.

Once this $50,000 is divided up, each person may make a claim under their Underinsured Motorist Coverage. Unfortunately, some of the victims did not own a car, so there was no Underinsured Motorist Coverage. Consequently, all that could be collected was a portion of the $50,000 for the pain and suffering. They were able to get their medical bills paid through the Kentucky Assigned Claims Plan. The school was only required to carry liability coverage so there was no Underinsured Motorist Coverage on the bus either.

Find the best coverage for you
Insurance companies, or their agents, sometimes push these low liability limits because they are trying to get you the cheapest rate possible. This also limits the insurance company’s exposure to liability in the event that you are in an automobile accident. When choosing your policy limits, you need to look at your particular circumstances before deciding whether or not the cheap insurance is your best bet. More often than not, you get what you pay for. Do your homework and purchase the insurance coverage that will financially protect you and your family. A good insurance agent will encourage this. It is smart to get several opinions and quotes before making your final decision.

As a Kentucky Accident Attorney, I want to encourage everyone to call their insurance agent and find out exactly what your insurance covers. You'd be surprised how many people think they have full coverage but don't. Please don't wait until after you've had an accident. If you find out that you aren't covered in a certain area, it's too late to add it to you coverage for that accident. I know insurance is can be expensive, but that doesn't mean you should settle for a cheap rate. Make sure you know what's covered so you will be protected in the future.

Michael A. Schafer and The Schafer Law Office represents clients and accident victims throughout Kentucky including Louisville, Lexington, LaGrange, Shepherdsville, Taylorsville, Shelbyville, Brandenburg, Elizabethtown, Frankfort, Carrolton, Bardstown, Munfordville, New Castle, Richmond, Bowling Green, St. Matthews, Prospect, Shively, Fairdale, Middletown, Douglas Hills, Valley Station and Pleasure Ridge Park. Cases are also handled in Jefferson County, Bullitt County, Oldham County, Shelby County, Hardin County, Spencer County, Fayette County, Franklin County, Carrol County, Henry County, Madison County, Nelson County, Anderson County, Trimble County, Larue County, Hart County and Meade County, Kentucky.